To ease your quarantine mind, here are a number of comforting films that are similar to a weighted blanket. For every person who has used the extra time, they might now have to catch up on films and TV shows they’ve missed over the years, there’s another who would rather revisit what they’ve already seen and found most comforting. Sometimes you just need to flip something on that feels like a sweeping embrace, the cinematic version of a weighted blanket. Nancy Meyers’s films are a godsend.
If you’ve already exhausted your supply of cozy films and need a few more suggestions, we’ve got you covered. Here are 5 additional options, all available on popular streaming services.
13 Going on 30
Streaming on Hulu’s Starz add-on, this Jennifer Garner vehicle might feel a bit strange to watch when Jenna Rink’s hustling and bustling New York lifestyle is no longer a possibility. But its message of empathy works in any situation, as does the relatable discovery that being an adult isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Bend it Like Beckham:
Streaming on Hulu, “Bend It Like Beckham” tells the classic story of a child of immigrants caught between two worlds, culminating in the tangible choice of either playing in a potentially life-altering soccer match or being present for the entirety of her sister’s Sikh wedding. Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley are endearing as new teammates and quick best friends trying to make it big.
About Time
Streaming on Netflix, this is somehow the second film in which Rachel McAdams plays the love interest of a time traveler — in this case, Domhnall Gleeson. There are always interdimensional plot holes in stories like this one, but who’s watching a Richard Curtis film for its scientific accuracy? Come for the cast, which also includes Bill Nighy, Margot Robbie, and Tom Hollander; stay for the warm, fuzzy feelings.
Bridget Jones’s Diary
Streaming on Amazon, “Bridget Jones’s Diary” features a scene early on in which Bridget (Renée Zellweger) lies on her couch in pajamas drinking wine, listening to power ballads, and passively watching “Frasier” — basically, a modern portrait of a single woman social-distancing. Representation is important!
Good Will Hunting
Streaming on Hulu, “Good Will Hunting” is a trip down memory lane to the early days of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s stardom. (Benana, who?) But the most comforting moments come from Robin Williams, who delivered an Oscar-winning performance as the hard-shelled Will’s no-nonsense therapist.